AmaZulu continued their resurgent run under Arthur Zwane and Vusumuzi Vilakazi with a 1-0 win over Cape Town City at the DHL Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Usuthu, who were smarting from a heart-breaking last-minute defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns, restored Etiosa Ighodaro as the sole figure up top with starlets Gabriel Amato, Alifeyo Ziba and Jaedin Rhodes given another run out by City.
The intentions by Usuthu were clear from the onset with Tshepang Moremi coming close following a decent delivery though Darren Keet pulled a save.
However, the deadlock eventually came before the opening-quarter when Riaan Hanamub got out on the left side of the box and crossed for Pule Ekstein to find the net.
Eric Tinkler's were keen to hit back immediately through a surging strike by Petrus Tijueza, but former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori was equal to the task.
AmaZulu should've gone further in front minutes later when a layoff by Moremi released Rowan Human outside the box though he snapped his lines.
On the other hand, City squandered a golden chance on the stroke of halftime as skipper Thamsanqa Mkhize fluffed his lines from a difficult angle following Darwin Gonzalez's delivery.
The home team got more moments to go on board with a succession of chances to Rhodes, but the academy graduate couldn't get the better of Ofori.
Mkhize looked to go one better than his earlier effort after meeting another supply from Gonzalez, but Ofori got behind him this time around.
Despite seeing the advantage, Usuthu decided to go to the substitutes bench and in came in former City man Abbubaker Mobara for Mlondi Mbanjwa.
Namibian Tijueza snapped a delightful opening for the host in the final stages off a loose ball following a scramble in the box.
The tie continued to favour the visitors who ended the year on a positive note as the Citizens' tough start to the season continued.
Confirmed line-ups:
Cape Town City: Keet, Mkhize, Cupido, Nyama, Petrus, Domingo, Gonzalez, Ziba, Rhodes, Tijueza, Amato
Subs: Dondolo, Sithol, Goedeman, April, Slatsha, Gordinho, Aphane, Mokotjo, Soukouna
AmaZulu: Ofori, Hanamub, Fielies, Mphahlele, Jooste, Motshwari, Mbanjwa, Ekstein, Moremi, Human, Ighodaro
Subs: Mothwa, Gumede, Mngonyama, Mobara, Ngobeni, Ngubane, Brooks, Mashigo, Haba